Reading about UA Sports Is Good for You. Maybe.

I was eating some whole wheat crackers at lunch and the box said: “May help reduce the risk of heart disease.” Really? It’s legal to brag about what your product might do? Alright then….

Reading about UA sports may help make you smarter, funnier and downright irresistible.

There. If you find yourself getting some extra attention from your Person of Significance today you’ll know who to thank.

On to the bonus thoughts from the UCLA game!

I appreciated the Wildcats’ ferocious strategy. On Arizona’s third play from scrimmage Delashaun Dean took the handoff, ran toward the UCLA sideline, went out of bounds and “accidentally” dismantled the Bruins’ hydration station. I believe that’s straight out of “The Art of War.”

The official attendance was 53,000 for Stanford and 51,000 for UCLA. Even if that’s true (and the wide shots of the east side stands weren’t pretty) how do you get fewer people after that Stanford game? Too much excitement? Too many wins? Come on, Tucson. Let’s go ahead and wait until the team loses again before we find something better to do on Saturdays.

Seventeen of Nick Foles’ 20 first-half passes were caught. It just so happens that three of them were snagged by the wrong team.

Averted Turning Point I: After the Cats fumbled on their first snap of the second half UCLA set up shop on the UA 17 in a 10-point game. The defense forced two incomplete passes (including the one that should have been called a lateral/fumble) and successfully defended a screen to keep UCLA out of the end zone. Well done, D.

Keola’s top helmet straps stick out like antennae. Perfect for the Ant.

For the second straight game Matt Scott came in for one play and, just like last time, it was an inaccurate attempt at a WR screen. Are we trying to set something up for later in the year, or is this just to make sure we don’t take Foles for granted?

Watching the replay I noticed Fox Sports Arizona missed a play due to being late coming back from commercials a handful of times. With one fewer down to work with, those of you viewing live must have thought you watching Canadian football.

It’s true, there is someone on campus who can kick the ball into the end zone. Actually, he was already on the team; he just doesn’t have a scholarship. During the bye week you have to see what John Bonano can do as a placekicker, right?

You know how when people talk about needing a touchdown they say, “We gotta get six”? Arizona fans say that because it’s probably all we’re going to end up with.

The Cats had five turnovers against UCLA. We had five in the previous four games combined. I would like to order the offense from OSU/UW/Stanford and the defense from CMU/UCLA. To go.

Averted Turning Point II: After UCLA scored on the lateral/fumble (and I’m fine with the call. It was too close to overturn the ruling on the field) to cut the lead to 20-13, Arizona faced a third and 11 from its own 36. We ran an inside receiver screen to Terrell Turner and he cut it upfield nicely for 17 yards and a first down. The drive ended with Booth’s touchdown and the Bruins never threatened again.

From a wild final quarter filled with big plays, fourth-down drama and two long UA touchdowns, to a placid fourth quarter with zero combined points. Maybe that will whip the ticket-buying public into a frenzy.

Your Arizona Wildcats are now ranked in every poll. Is it because of our sterling record? No, 5-2 isn’t earth-shattering. Was it due to an impossible-to-ignore victory? Nah, UCLA is winless in conference play. So what changed? I guarantee the voters saw the UA listed among the BCS Top 25 all week and thought, “Wait, Arizona is ranked? I didn’t vote for them. I’ll have to change that so I don’t look like an idiot.” Sometimes peer pressure is a good thing.

Enjoy the bye week and soak in those rankings. Sometimes no pressure is a great thing.

You wonder where this team might be with Foles starting the season and Gronk in. Stoops that close to a top 10 team? Believe it. Anyone who has watched AZ football for many years is basically, well, in shock with the depth. Hard to keep up with the next new guy making a great play I have never heard of.

Actually, what I see is not very fair is the treatment of Scott in all of this. He is not Foles but if we do not get him some solid playing time against WSU, coaches are foolish. We need depth at every position including QB. How about this. You have a RUN quarterback with not as accurate and weaker arm than you PASS quarterback. Bring him in for two plays and they are both difficult pass plays. Stoops, next time you put Matt in, run an option with no option; he is in there to run.
What I would really like to see is a few plays where they line Matt Scott up in the back field behind Foles to really freak out the opposing team’s defensive coordinator.

That’s what I’m getting at with Scott. Why bring him in to run plays that aren’t his strength? I agree we’re wasting his skills but not using him in a change-of-pace run-heavy package. Maybe Dykes is waiting to spring it on somebody later in the year. Like you said, hopefully we get Scott lots of reps in the WSU game!

CBClarkOctober 28, 2009

Good Stuff Scott. It is fun to watch this team and this off week sure can let the mind wander to how good this season could finish for the Wildcats. Then letting the mind wander to 2010 and the firepower this offense has coming back and then if Gronk stays how good this team could be. I know the D loses some key players, but hopefully the Stoops boys have some players waiting in the wings. Arizona football certainly seems to have turned the corner. Keep up the good read.